How I made it through my pain.............

There is no greater Love.. Than that of the Father

I'm convinced that God has an immeasurable amount of love and patience with his children. I'm also convinced that he has walked me through the dark times in my life where I was fainthearted and wearied. He nursed me back to health to a healing place in him. I made it because HE lives on the inside of me. I am stronger because He is the Almighty God. He gave me water for my thirst, food for thought.
My life has been a living testament to this fact. I had a what I call an ideal childhood, grew up in a home with two loving parents, a close knit extended family and a good solid educational background, opportunities for travel and I was the youngest child in the home!(we are unique) I had a lot of friends. Growing up in New Orleans was a real treat. Wow God is awesome!Thanks Lord for a good life..
However, in my short course of life there are things I experienced that were not so pleasant, not so memorable. That made me question if God really cared about me.
I've experienced pain: the pain of divorce, illness, the near death of my own child, loved ones who have passed on. One of the greatest times of trial in my life came to a head last year. It was the pain of losing both of my beloved parents by age 38- that's far too young in my mind. My father who appeared healthy to me died suddenly.

This pain pushed me into a place where man could not reach me. It pushed me to a place where I could not cry but simply moan or stare out into the heavens looking for answers. It pushed me away from others who had not a clue as to what I was experiencing.

My spirit man knew what I needed. I needed God, the father and in time would need his healing. But just at that moment I had to go through the pain to get to healing.
This pain pushed me into the Master's arms.

It made me realize that God is the final authority on my faith. He controls my destiny not me. Not the plans I wrote 10 years ago which looked like a "to do list for my life".

It reminded me of his gentle nature; he nursed me with his Word. His presence was food for my wearied soul. Sometimes my tears would fall internally but God reminded me that he had them in a bottle. He knew my sorrow; he knew my anger and frustration at losing not just my daddy but my friend. God knew that I felt my world crashing around me and was walking like a newborn colt on wobbly legs. He carried me in Worship; he cradled me at night when my tears were my meat. I've had times where I physically did not have the strength to walk but called on the name of the Lord our God and he healed.

No matter what I've been through good or bad- God never left me. He was there for me. He walked with me, carried me, celebrated with me, scolded me at times; and always reminded me of His love.

To those of you who have experienced or are currently experiencing the pain of loss be encouraged. God has your heart in his hand. He knows its delicate state and will care for it accordingly. He will under gird you with his strength and empower you for the victory that lies ahead. Don't give up; anchor yourself not in the flesh but in the Spirit of the Living God. God knows that in you lies the spirit of a conqueror. The Word of God is not cliche, it comes to life off of those pages when your in aplace that seems like you cannot make another day- look to Him for comfort, cry out Abba, he will answer your call. There's no game or gimmicks to the healing God brings to the wearied, it's real!

Be blessed
Prophetess Valencia Luckett